RTV - I'm rubbish but are my tyres not helping

[MattMatt]

I was at a local RTV yesterday - I didn't do that well and I don't think it just my crap driving although it really didn't help!!!!

I was being walked all over on sticky hills with guys using simex copies (Insa Turbos and the like) so I was thinking that I'd better change my existing Colway MTs' because they seem to make a big difference.  The Colways are only six months old so before I splash the cash.......

Am I right - do they make that much difference or is it just the driver!!!! :?:

[thermidorthelobster]

I've not used the Colways but tyres do make the biggest single difference of any bit of offroading kit.  If you're driving in situations which suit the Simex-style tyres then I think you'll find a big difference.  Can you borrow a set of wheels from somebody with the Insa Turbos for a day and try them on your truck?

Some would argue that driver skill makes a bigger difference than any piece of equipment but that depends on the situation;  also I doubt your driving is that bad!

[TDi90]

the questions arises will you go on the road with you truck?
simex and especially insas wear very quickly on tarmac...
unless you have a spare set of tyres i would stick with the colways.

[Mudlark]

Trials are unlike other forms of off-roading, with a trial you have to do something within a set distance - you can't just floor it and make a run for it.


My first trials were performed on ATs and yes I was lousy for the first, not being able to do things I knew that I'd done off-road simply because of the limitations set on a trial.
With each trial though I improved as I watched the other drivers undertake each section, learning from their mistakes as well as their successes.

I eventually changed my tyres to a 31" Colway MT after about 3 or 4 trials and yes there is a difference, but you tend to push the new tyre more and then end up getting the same problem.

Colway MT seem to fill up quickly with cloyey mud so need to be run at 15psi to flex them if you are in that situation.

I'm thinking along the Insa Turbo line as well - but I haven't mastered these MTs yet (and I can't afford the Turbos yet anyway )

Try some more trials with what you have, air them down and watch what everyone else is doing.


Good luck and have fun

[CJ]

tyres will make the biggest difference, but sometimes it's better to stick with wahts you got, master them first, then move on to insas, or what about the Diamonds ?  used to be a great RTV tyre...  

[L90OOK]

The tyres will make a huge difference & get you in situations you may not like or want to be in!  
Before you change tyres I'd ask an experienced driver at your meets to take your vehicle round & see where they managed to get it compared to yourself...then you'll have a benchmark to work from.

[markyb]

what class were you running in , sometimes you get chucked into an open class maybe some people had lockers there and other mods that might have made you think you were finding it hard.

ive recently chanegd to a defender and im always forgetting the diff lock and forget teh weight of the thing compared to a zuk.

like most things experience of it will show, used to find walking the routes was a must,

[MattMatt]

Thanks for all your comments

I've got a coil sprung Series running RRC axles, 2" lift etc so I get stuffed into class 10 all the time.  It is not my daily ride, gets used mainly at w/ends so not too worried about tyre wear and the club I trial with allow tyre pressure down to 22 psi (I think) but reducing the pressure is good idea as they do get clogged up with mud/clay and stuff

I will ask someone for a borrow of some Insas but having an experienced trialer to drive mine around is a great idea.  I can watch what it does and compare with other.

I'll let you know how I get on?

[Xtremeteam]

Thanks for all your comments

I've got a coil sprung Series running RRC axles, 2" lift etc so I get stuffed into class 10 all the time.  It is not my daily ride, gets used mainly at w/ends so not too worried about tyre wear and the club I trial with allow tyre pressure down to 22 psi (I think) but reducing the pressure is good idea as they do get clogged up with mud/clay and stuff

I will ask someone for a borrow of some Insas but having an experienced trialer to drive mine around is a great idea.  I can watch what it does and compare with other.

I'll let you know how I get on?

#

u playin by ARC rules?

i found droping mine to 12 ish helped,
also get a more experienced driver to sit in & give pointers & pay attention to how other drive similarly specced trucks,

& just do as many events as you can,
Been doing Rtvs,trials,compsafaris etc since i passed my test (3 1/2 years) & its only now its all falling into place & starting to happen

[Devon-Rover]

mmm yup sounds like your playing by the ALRC rule book.

It is a whole deal down to your driving style. I have nowt but praise for the colways. Give it time and your driving will become better.
Watch the other more experienced drivers and you'll see how they do and what they don't do.

A trial environment is very unlike a Play do or greenlaning and it takes a little time to get adapted to it.

[jjsaul]

i had colway mt's on my rangie and hated them...no lateral grip....got rid of them and replaced with bfg's (albeit a bit bigger)...they feel a lot grippier.

my favourite MT's are the machos i had on my other rangie.

[MattMatt]

i[m going to stick with the Colways for now as they are so new - I'm just changing the gearbox to an LT77 this week so time and money is in short supply

Thanks for all your comments.

[Disco-Ron]

Isn't the minimum tyre pressure 22psi ... according to the LARC rules anyway.... nothing taller than 33 inches either!!! also, be careful with wheel offset..... that is unless class 10 is unlimited or something.... i know enough of the rules, but not all of em clearly....

[anaxemurderer]

RTV's seem to have progessed quite rapidly (in my experience). A few years ago everyone seemed to be running colway mt's, sats or possibly diamond backs or grizzlies. Now simex-alikes are the norm, and lots of people seem to have cages!

When i 3 years ago i was using trac-edge, had very little grip and did very badly, i still had fun but it didn't do much for my confidence. I not really into trialing anymore (too much standing around and 'rules') but now i'm running maxi 3ds, which have loads of grip (i think there better than simex types, anaconda's or grizzlies). I don't drive them really hard but them levels of grip give me much more confidence and control. I can drive hills in 1st tickover that others need 2nd and a run up because of the tyres, its less damaging easier to control (and it makes me look good!)

Anyhow my view is depending on your experience get something better but stick out the colways as long as possible (then get something really knarly!).

Nick

[crazymac]

IMHO very aggressive tyres like the simex etc can get you into as much trouble as they get you out of!

Various members of our club used to use them and were breaking things on the drier trials like quarries etc. change back to more convertional muds and no more diffs breaking!

I run a series 3 diesel in standard class with the mud terrain tyres the marines use (can't remember what they're called) I beat all the rangerovers and 90s to the class win last year :D

now that I have some experience I'm building a 90V8 with a 2 inch lift that will run in class 4 (we have 5 classes) this will run on half worn greenway machos aired down to 15psi and we'll see how that goes!

[muddyjames]

I did my first ever trial a few months ago and loved it.

There was only 3 of us in the adult class and about 7-8 kids in the junior trial. Basically I got me ass whipped by the kids! :lol: They had been doing it for years and years and they all had swb series or defenders. There was only me with a disco and my mate with her 110. I was amazed where the bfg at's got me and didnt get me in other places.

I found thinking lateraly helped me in some places eg going around a tree the different side to everyone else, although tighter it was less gooey and more grip for the at's.

On the very last section there was one hill everyone was struggling to get over and I didnt think for a second my disco would get over due to length and tyres but it went over without a problem. shame there was a tree stump the other side 5ft after the hill that my axle got stuck on and stopped :roll:

But I also went to a pay and play day when I had my rangie and only had road tyres on and didnt get towed out once all day and I was managing to get up some hills that bob tailed rangies with mt tyres on couldnt get up.

I think tyres do help big time but sometimes just being gentle on the right hand pedal can get you through as not spinning the wheels doesnt clog the tread up as much and as quickly.

At Abingdon last year though I had my grizzlies on and I could see a huge difference in performance compared to everyone else as that was mega sticky there after all the rain.

I would stick to the tyres you have got and try out diferent teckniques and different lines to everyone else and learn from where everyone else gets stuck.